Pirates announce affiliation with Florida

2015-03-18 : Portland, ME

The Portland Pirates, in conjunction with the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League, announced today that they will enter into a multi-year player development deal beginning in the 2015-16 season and running through 2018-19.

As part of the agreement, the Panthers will supply players, coaches, and hockey operations staff to the Pirates.

The Portland Pirates, established in 1993 after the relocation of the Baltimore Skipjacks, is the fourth-longest tenured AHL franchise operating continuously in its current market. Currently in its 22nd season, Portland is only surpassed by the Hershey Bears (established 1938), the Rochester Americans (1956), and the Providence Bruins (1992) in longevity in their current cities.